There are three major things that need to be done to have the BeagleBoard ready to run for class. Hardware, software on the Beagle and software on a host computer. Here are the details.

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There are four major things that need to be done to have the BeagleBoard ready to run for class:

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# Get your Beagle Hardware together

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# Update the OS on your Beagle

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# Set up a host computer, running Linux for code development

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# Clone the course git repository on both the Beagle and the host

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=== The Hardware ===

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== The Hardware ==

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I have a Beagle Board xM for everyone to use for the quarter. I'm assuming you have some hardware already. Here's the hardware you will need and where you get it.

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Here's the hardware you will need and where you get it.

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==== From the Instrument Room ====

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=== You may have, or will have to buy ===

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You can pick this up any time, even Monday-Wednesday of break.

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* BeagleBoard xM

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* 5V power supply

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* HDMI to DVI cable

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* serial to USB cable

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==== From your own resources ====

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We are using the [http://beagleboard.org/Getting%20Started BeagleBone Black] this year. Since it's only $45 I'll have you buy your your own. There's a few other things you will need to get before the first day of class.

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* BeagleBone Black. See [http://beagleboard.org/ http://beagleboard.org/] for suggestions of where to buy the Black. I suggest ordering sooner rather than later since it may take a couple of weeks.

* USB keyboard and mouse

* USB keyboard and mouse

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* DVI-D display

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* HDMI display

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* micro SD card. 4G should be enough. I suggest you have 2 or 3 cards since it's easy to mess up one and it takes some 10 minutes to reload it.

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* At least three 4G micro SD cards. I suggest you have 3 or 4 cards since it's easy to mess up one and it takes some 10 minutes to reload it.

* micro SD card reader/writer

* micro SD card reader/writer

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* USB to Ethernet adapter. The Beagle has Ethernet on it, but every time you boot it you get a random MAC address. If you are running on the Rose network you need a fixed MAC address.

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* Powered USB hub, at least 4 ports. The Black has only one USB so this will allow you to plug in the keyboard, mouse, web cam, etc.

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=== Software on the Beagle ===

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==== Books ====

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* [http://www.amazon.com/Embedded-Linux-Primer-Practical-Real-World/dp/0137017839 Embedded Linux Primer] The bookstore will have this.

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* [http://www.morganclaypool.com/doi/abs/10.2200/S00500ED1V01Y201304DCS041 Bad to the Bone] Don't buy this yet, I think I can get you a free copy.

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We're using mostly open source software. Go to [[EBC_Exercise_00_Installing_Angstrom_on_SD]] to see see how to get everything installed on the SD card for the Beagle. Once installed, you will be able to do the first 10 or so labs completely on the Beagle. Yup, edit, compile (or make) and run, all on the Beagle.

Once we start moving into Kernel development we will need a host computer. Since we are doing Linux development, it's generally agree the host should be running Linux. I suggest you run [http://www.ubuntu.com Ubuntu 10.4 (LTS)]. The Rose Linux Users Group [http://lug.rose-hulman.edu/wiki/Main_Page LUG] has instructions on where to get a local copy so you don't have to download some 700M.

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== Updating the Beagle OS ==

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Once you have all your hardware together go ahead and [http://beagleboard.org/Getting%20Started explore the Bone]. It should work right out of the box. After you have explored a while, update the image on the Bone so you are running the most current image. Go to [[EBC Exercise 03 Installing a Beagle OS]] to learn how to flash your SD card with a fresh OS.

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== The Linux host computer ==

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The above will get you ready for about the first 4 weeks of class. Around week 5 we'll start looking at the kernel and will need to cross compile. Once we start moving into Kernel development we will need a host computer. Since we are doing Linux development, it's generally agree the host should be running Linux. I suggest you run [http://www.ubuntu.com Ubuntu 12.04 (LTS)]. The CSSE department has a [ftp://ftp.csse.rose-hulman.edu/ubuntu-releases/12.04.2 local copy] so you don't have to download some 700M. You want the '''desktop-amd64.iso''' if you have a 64-bit machine, or the '''desktop-i386.iso''' if you are running 32-bits.

There are three options as to how to run Linux.

There are three options as to how to run Linux.

# Native install ([http://www.ubuntu.com/download])

# Native install ([http://www.ubuntu.com/download])

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# Install in a virtual machine ([[ECE497 Lab00 Installing Ubuntu in VMware Player]], though you could also use [[ECE497 VirtualBox Notes | Virtual Box]] too.)

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# Install in a virtual machine. I've been running [[EBC Exercise 06 Notes on VirtualBox | Virtual Box]] recently and it seems to work find. You can also try [[EBC Exercise 07 Notes on Installing Ubuntu in VMware Player | VMware Player]].

# Run in the cloud

# Run in the cloud

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The Ubuntu site give good instructions for a native install. I've had good success with running both VMware and Virtual Box, though my installation instructions are a bit dated. (Feel free to update them if they need it.)

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The Ubuntu site gives good instructions for a native install. I've had good success with running both VMware and Virtual Box, though my installation instructions are a bit dated. (Feel free to update them if they need it.)

I've been testing out the "Cloud" approach and it looks like it will work too. If you want to try the cloud, let me known and I'll ask CSSE to set up a machine for you.

I've been testing out the "Cloud" approach and it looks like it will work too. If you want to try the cloud, let me known and I'll ask CSSE to set up a machine for you.

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=== Kernel Development ===

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Once you have Linux running somewhere, you need to install the kernel development tools. Go to [[EBC Exercise 08 Installing Development Tools]] to see all the steps you need.

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Now that you have all these pieces in place you are ready to work with a very power embedded processor.

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== The class git repository ==

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Once you have an up to date OS running on your Beagle, go to [[EBC Exercise 05 Getting Exercise Support Materials]] to learn how to clone the class git repository. Once cloned it's a single command to get the latest materials on your Beagle (or host computer for that matter).

Updating the Beagle OS

Once you have all your hardware together go ahead and explore the Bone. It should work right out of the box. After you have explored a while, update the image on the Bone so you are running the most current image. Go to EBC Exercise 03 Installing a Beagle OS to learn how to flash your SD card with a fresh OS.

The Linux host computer

The above will get you ready for about the first 4 weeks of class. Around week 5 we'll start looking at the kernel and will need to cross compile. Once we start moving into Kernel development we will need a host computer. Since we are doing Linux development, it's generally agree the host should be running Linux. I suggest you run Ubuntu 12.04 (LTS). The CSSE department has a local copy so you don't have to download some 700M. You want the desktop-amd64.iso if you have a 64-bit machine, or the desktop-i386.iso if you are running 32-bits.

The Ubuntu site gives good instructions for a native install. I've had good success with running both VMware and Virtual Box, though my installation instructions are a bit dated. (Feel free to update them if they need it.)

I've been testing out the "Cloud" approach and it looks like it will work too. If you want to try the cloud, let me known and I'll ask CSSE to set up a machine for you.

Kernel Development

Now that you have all these pieces in place you are ready to work with a very power embedded processor.

The class git repository

Once you have an up to date OS running on your Beagle, go to EBC Exercise 05 Getting Exercise Support Materials to learn how to clone the class git repository. Once cloned it's a single command to get the latest materials on your Beagle (or host computer for that matter).